After weeks of cool, wet weather, Northeast Pennsylvania kicked off the first day of summer on Friday with the National Weather Service issuing a warning of an impending heat wave expected to bring “major to extreme heat” to the region.
With a number of popular outdoor events scheduled to take place this weekend — the Rattlesnake Roundup in Noxen, NASCAR’s race in the Poconos and PrideFest in Wilkes-Barre — the weather service was warning of “oppressive heat and humidity” set to hit the region beginning Sunday and lasting at least until Tuesday.
“I would definitely consider this a potential heat wave,” said Michael Murphy, lead forecaster at the National Weather Service’s station in Binghamton. He said the service expects “major to extreme heat” to hit the Wyoming Valley in coming days.
According to the weather service, much of Northeast Pennsylvania including Luzerne, Lackawanna and Wayne counties will likely experience oppressive heat and humidity from Sunday through at least Tuesday.
While daytime high temperatures will be in the mid- to upper-90s, the heat index values will be closer to 105 degrees, according to the service. Murphy noted that while temperatures at night will dip into the low 70s, the air will remain very humid.
“There’s not going to be much relief at nighttime,” Murphy said.
Much of the rest of the state to the south of Interstate 80, including Schuylkill County, will be under an extreme heat watch from Sunday morning through Wednesday evening. The weather service is predicting “dangerously hot conditions,” with heat index values possibly exceeding 105 degrees.
Monday and Tuesday are expected to be the hottest days.
Murphy noted that the timing of the heat — coming after a period of cool weather and at the start of summer, when there is strong solar radiation — raises public safety concerns.
“It’s a complete pattern change here with the heat coming in and no time to acclimate,” Murphy said. “It’s very hot conditions.”
As a result, the service was warning residents to check on relatives and neighbors, and to provide pets with adequate water and shelter from the sun.
A group of people enjoy the warm weather by fishing from a small boat on Harveys Lake on Friday, June 20, 2025. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Red Cross tips
The American Red Cross of Greater Pennsylvania offered some tips to help residents cope with the impending heat wave, urging people to “stay hydrated, stay cool and stay connected.”
“Knowing what to do to protect yourself and loved ones from extreme heat can save lives,” Jorge Martinez, chief executive of the American Red Cross of Greater Pennsylvania, said in a statement. “We’re asking everyone to check on friends and neighbors — especially older adults, people with chronic conditions, outdoor workers and athletes. You could make all the difference by sending a text, making a call or knocking on their door.”
The Red Cross recommends people stay hydrated by drinking a cup of water every hour, regardless of thirst. People should avoid sugary, caffeinated and alcoholic drinks, and babies should be fed often. Fewer wet diapers or darker urine can be signs of dehydration.
People should also stay cool by spending time in air-conditioned locations, including malls, libraries or community cooling centers. Residents are also urged to wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothing.
Athletes and outdoor workers were advised to take frequent water breaks in the shade.
The group also urged people to “stay connected” by checking on each other and asking for help if they need it.
The Red Cross warned that whose experiencing heat cramps — signaled by heavy sweating and muscle pain — should stop their activities and rest in a cool place while sipping water.
A more serious condition, heat exhaustion, causes heavy sweating, weakness, cool and clammy skin, muscle cramps, dizziness, fainting, nausea or vomiting.
People experiencing such symptoms are urged to stop what they are doing and to rest in a cool place while drinking water.
Those experiencing signs of heat stroke — high body temperature, rapid heartbeat, confusion, headache, dizziness, fainting, nausea or vomiting — should move to a cool location but should not drink anything and 911 to be treated for the medical emergency.
Gerrity’s employees Matt Mulkerin and Tony Suriano stock cases of water at Gerrity’s in the Keyser Oak Plaza in Scranton Friday, June 20, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Power issues
The heat wave comes in the aftermath of a storm system that moved through the state on Thursday, knocking out power to some customers.
The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission said it has been working with affected utilities and state agencies to restore service to about 156,000 homes and businesses that lost power during the severe storms.
The extreme heat was expected to create “additional challenges” for those still without power, and the commission said utilities are prioritizing restoration to critical facilities and large population areas and deploying all available resources to complete repairs as safely and quickly as possible.
The PUC was urging residents to stay alert and informed, and to check in on neighbors — particularly senior citizens and those with medical conditions — as restoration efforts continue and temperatures rise.
Friends Richard Maopolski and Matthew Farley, both of Scranton, sit under trees for shade in McDade Park in Scranton Friday, June 20, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
PPL tips
PPL Electric Utilities has also issued tips for customers trying to avoid the heat.
Customers are urged to set their thermostats at between 72-78 degrees to conserve energy and to draw drapes and shades to block out the sun during the day.
Large appliances — such as dishwashers, stoves, washers and dryers — should not be used during the hottest part of the day, and customers should use LED light bulbs to avoid the heat created by incandescent bulbs, the utility said.
Customers should also use ceilings fans to cool their homes because they cost far less to run than air conditioners, but they should only be used in occupied rooms, PPL said.